Paula Wiseman

Faith and life meet in a story

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Something to think about as you start a new week

Monday Meditations are quick posts designed to get you thinking about God. They provide a fresh perspective as you jump into your routine.

 

Turning Aside

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flames"So when the Lord saw that [Moses] turned aside to look, God called to him…" Exodus 3:4

This is at the burning bush.

When God saw that He had Moses' attention, then He called to him.

Not until.

God won't compete for my attention.

And He won't speak until He has it.

What burning bush, what miracle, is God working right in front of me? Is He trying to get my attention?

What message, what calling, might be waiting for me to turn aside and look?

 

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No Fear

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shadow couple

Genesis 26:7 Isaac was afraid. He said, "they might…" or "I might…". Even the Philistine king responded with, "One of us might…"
 
Fear is about the worst case scenario. 
 
Sometimes, I've experienced the worst case scenario. Like the time we got the phone call that my twenty-six year old brother collapsed. It was his heart. A few days later, he was gone.  
 
Fear is about shadows and imagination. 

I have an active imagination. The peace God pours out of His storehouses for exceeds my imagination, my comprehension … and my need. I've experienced that too.
 
Fear steals my joy and security. 

In verses 3-5, God assured Isaac that He would bless him. In another moment, fear made him forget God's presence, God's providence and God's protection.
 
The new year always begins with great hope and promise. How long before fear creeps back in? Sometimes fear goes by an alias – worry, anxiety, stress, doubt, insecurity …
 
Fear doesn't come from God. It causes disorder and confusion, neither of which is consistent with His character. Instead He gives power, love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).
 
A sound mind – confident, right-thinking, not fearful.
 
2011 – A year of no fear? Why not?
 

Who to Ask?

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"…So she went to inquire of the Lord…" Genesis 25:22

Rebekah was pregnant but this was no ordinary pregnancy. She figured since God was the one who had blessed her with the baby (babies, she would soon discover), He should be able to explain what was going on.

I admit, God is not always the first One I turn to when things don't make sense. Usually I call on my husband or my friends. They are good, Godly people who give good counsel, but they don't have the inside knowledge God does.

Some reasons I don't go to God first-

  • He's invisible.
  • He doesn't always answer immediately.
  • I'm afraid my questions are silly.

Some reasons I should get over that-

  • "I have called you by name; you are Mine." Isaiah 43:1
  • "No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly." Psalm 84:11
  • "The secret things belong to the Lord." Deuteronomy 29:29
  • "I have loved you with an everlasting love." Jeremiah 31:3
  • "The prayer [even the dumb questions] of the upright is His delight." Proverbs 15:8

I'll work on this one.

 

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Before We Get to Amen

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Rubber stamp marked finishedIn Genesis 24, there is a story about Abraham sending his servant off with a charge to find a bride for Isaac. When the servant reaches Abraham's homeland, he stops to pray for success in his quest.
 
Verse 15 says "Before he had finished speaking…" the answer to his prayers appeared at the town well.
 
Before he had finished speaking. Before he got to "amen". The answer, Rebekah, was right there in front of him. 
 
Now God does not play favorites. This servant didn't have any special inside track when it came to God's grace and attention. He wasn't holier than everyone else or extra faithful. The God he prayed to is the same God who answers my prayers and yours. And God answers them just as fast. Even if I don't SEE the results immediately. 
 
That's what shakes us. The answers don't seem to count if we don't see them. Believing without seeing- that's the stuff of faith.
 
Believe this – Before I finish speaking, before you finish speaking, God has heard and has begun to act. 
 

 

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A Gift from Jesus

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But to each one of us, grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. Ephesians 4:7
 
I've never put grace on my Christmas list.
 
But that's what Jesus Christ is giving me. (It's in the Bible, so it's not a big secret.) That's what He's giving all of His children, all of His brothers and sisters this year.
 
He reaches into His limitless storehouse and measures it out. Perfectly. Exactly what I need. It fits me just right.
 
And He expects me to use it, not leave it sitting in the box until next year. It cost far too much for that.
 
Thing is, I don't have to wait until December 25th to receive it. It's available anytime I ask.
 
And He doesn't mind if I re-gift it.

 

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Blessed in Every Way

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A stack of presents

"Now Abraham was old, advanced in age, and the Lord had blessed Abraham in every way." Genesis 24:1 (NAS)

 

It took a lifetime.

A lifetime to receive the abundance of blessings. 

A lifetime to recognize the scope of the blessings.

But the verse begins a new chapter. God isn't through blessing Abraham.

When Abraham thought he had received all the blessings God could possibly pour out… God poured out even more.

I am beginning a new chapter in my life. I know God has blessings ready.

That's just the way He is.

 

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Encounters Series

From the opening pages of Scripture, no one who has encountered a holy God has come away unchanged. Adam, Abraham, Hagar, Moses and many, many others realized that God is not distant but a God who … Read More

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